In this module you shall learn about:
We shall provide you with all the knowledge and information you need to know to pass the API SIFE exam.
Explain the concepts and where necessary, shall elaborate by giving examples.
Flash cards for quick reference.
Highlight areas that are potential exam questions.
Mock exam questions that are specifically designed in line with the spirit of API SIFE exam questions.
You may appreciate the fact that API wants to verify your understanding of the topics and hence the exam questions are mostly rephrased and given in the context of a scenario.
Our team of course editors are all qualified API SIFE Inspectors and Chartered Engineers who prepare the course based on the latest revision of study material. They have years of industry experience, and most passed the exam for the past 3-6 years, so we are quite up to date.
Our course content goes through several check points to ensure that it is easy to understand, focused on the body of knowledge and is in line with ISO 29990:2010 Learning services for non-formal education and training; so, you know what you are expected to learn at the end of each module.
There are four definite leads to help you understand what type of questions to expect during examination. These are:
Regardless of which study plan you may wish to take or which training course you opt for; these leads shall help you focus your efforts and do a pulse check to ensure you are on the right track.
You can start the self-study by obtaining the reference study materials and crack on.
Obviously, you would save some money but instead, may be prone to make some silly mistakes that can be the difference between the success and failure in the API SIFE exam that you would otherwise rightfully deserve.
You shall miss the chance to review our latest question bank based on real API score sheets; miss those key points presented by our team of course instructors in the form of flash cards and specially; miss the all-important concepts that we offer to make your life easier right from the start.
Your approach and study plan are also very important. If you merely memorize the facts and figures without fully understanding the concepts, there is still a high chance of getting the answer wrong because API exam questions are often rephrased.
In other words, API exam questions do not normally use statements from codes and recommended practices word by word (ad verbatim) except for day-to-day routine information that an inspector is expected to know (practical type of questions).
API wants to verify your understanding of concepts and how you use the codes to carry out your duties as a source inspector of fixed equipment.
You can choose our training package that has the advantage of explaining core principles and concepts while our exam questions are very much in line with actual API exam questions, aimed at reminding you of the concepts, how to apply those concepts and how to handle the trick questions.
We shall explain each topic as well as the basic concept in sufficient detail so that even those candidates with minimum level of knowledge and expertise can benefit from it.
We do not claim that our e-learning courses are the only option to pass the exam, nor we claim that our courses would completely substitute API SIFE study materials.
However, we do claim being one of the best API training providers because we shall:
API examinations are divided into two main groups: core exams (API 510, 570, 653) and non-core exams (API 571, 577, 580, 936, TES, 1169, SIFE, SIRE).
All API examinations are held 3 times a year and each API certification has a ‘’ 3 weeks exam window’’ that you should choose from at the time of registration.
The three API SIFE exam windows for year 2020, are: March 8 – March 29, 2024; July 12 – August 2, 2024, and November 1 – 22, 2024.
The exam fee is $465.
After registration and approval by API, your 3 weeks exam window is frozen, and you can only select the location, date and time at a Prometric test center.
Seats are limited at your preferred Prometric location, so select the date and time with Prometric as soon as you can once you have received the API Authorization email.
Note: Prometric is subcontracted by API to hold the computer-Based Examinations.
To get the API approval in order to sit for the exam, file the application form by registering with API ICP by using the link:
Note: API currently holds remote exam option. This is called ” remote proctoring”. You can know attend the exam from the comfort of your home or office but please note that the same rule for identity verification, and exam administration applies.
You cannot use any pen and paper and any calculation shall be done via the desk top calculator. For more information, click on link below.
Create an account and pay the fee. You shall receive the API authorization email within 3-4 days.
Within the API authorization email, there is a link to ‘’Prometric’’ where you can select the exam center, the date and time slot.
There are more than 3000 Prometric testing centers across 160 countries worldwide to choose from.
Therefore, API cannot promise that you will be able to obtain a seat at your preferred location.
It is highly recommended that you schedule your exam immediately after receiving your ‘’Exam Authorization Notice’’ from API. If seats are not available, try a different date within the same window, or choose another location.
Please note that, at the time of applying for API examination, you are required to select one of the available ‘’3 weeks’ time window’’.
Once the time window selected, you cannot change it which means you can only attempt the exam within the selected ‘’3 weeks window’’ unless you decide to reschedule and pay the fees which is as good as failing the exam.
Note: API in collaboration with Prometric offers a “Remote Proctoring” option where you can attend from the comfort of your home or office. To know more, click on below link:
It is highly recommended that you schedule your exam immediately after receiving your ‘’Exam Authorization Notice’’ email from API. If seats are not available, try a different date within the same window, or choose another location.
Although it takes only 3-4 days before API approves your application, you might not be able to find a suitable available date with your selected Prometric test center or worse, you might not be able to get a seat at your favorite test center within the allocated ‘’3 weeks window’’ at all if you receive your approval (API authorization email) too late.
Therefore, it is recommended that you register and get API approval (API Exam Authorization Notice email) at least three months prior to your scheduled exam.
You can change the location and the date (within the allocated 3 weeks window) up to 30 days before the last day of test window free of charge and between 5-29 days for a fee of USD 70 $ subject to availability. Normally, it is possible to change the time and location for API SIFE.
API gives each candidate 12 consecutive months to pass an exam beginning from the first scheduled test window.
This means you can attempt an exam for a maximum of 4 consecutive exam Schedule or one year.
If you do not pass the exam within a year for any reason such as failure in exam, fail to schedule the exam, no show up at the scheduled date, etc., you have to apply all over again and pay the full fee.
API SIFE certification is valid for a three-year term and the initial exam costs US $465.
For exam schedule and list of fees, please follow below link:
After 3 years, you need to apply for recertification demonstrating that you still work as an API inspector for 20% of the time. Recertification cost $ 365.
You may apply for recertification 90 days prior to the certificate expiration date, and up to 90-day after the expiry of your certificate (subject to late payment fee of 150 $).
If an application is not submitted by the end of the 90-day grace period, your certificate will expire. A new application with full fee must be submitted, and you will need to pass the initial examination in order to be recertified.
API inspectors are required to take an on-line, open book quiz every six years in order to keep their certification.
Each quiz has 25 questions that address the changes in the relevant API codes over the past six years.
You have a total of four hours to complete the quiz, and it may be paused or interrupted up to three times.
If you fail the quiz once, you will be able to take it again. If you fail the quiz a second time, you will not be able to recertify and you shall need to submit a fresh application and take the full version of the exam in order to certify again.
If you fail the initial exam, you need to request rescheduling and pay $150 for re-examination.
After requesting for rescheduling and paying the fee, you shall receive the approval letter via email within a day or two.
You can then book your seat with the Prometric as soon as possible. Remember, you have one year from the date of your first exam to pass which entitles you to maximum Four attempts.
Make sure you reach the Prometric test center at least half an hour before the scheduled time. If you reach the test center 15 minutes after the scheduled exam time, they may refuse to admit you.
Prior to letting you in to sit for the exam; Prometric Invigilator shall check your photographic government ID (such as valid Passport or Driving License), ask you to sign in; check you with a metal detector; ask you to turn up your sleeves and trousers; check your pockets; look at your reading glasses to ensure it does not have any camera, ask you a security question (DOB, email address) and take your picture.
You cannot carry anything with you except a bottle of water. No ornaments are allowed except a wedding ring.
Prometric shall supply you with a couple of green color A4 size papers and a pencil for taking notes plus a simple calculator.
You are required to have a valid government issued photo identity card such as a passport or a driving license and keep it with yourself during the examination.
If you don’t produce a government photo ID card at the Prometric test center, you shall be refused entry and it is treated as a ‘’no show up’’ which is as good as failing the exam.
Also, make sure your government issued photo ID (driving license, passport) is VALID. If your ID is expired, you shall be refused entry.
During API 653 exam, one of our candidates had an expired driving license and was refused entry although he returned half an hour later with a valid passport but by that time it was too late, Prometric said.
As a result, he had to pay the rescheduling fee (USD 300 $) and appear for the exam 6 months later.
It is recommended to check your photo ID to ensure it is valid and preferably carry two valid government issued photo ID as plan B.
It is simply not worth it to be refused for an ID issue after all the time, effort and money you have put in.
Prior to the examination, you shall be given the key to a locker to keep your belongings. You are not allowed to use the locker until you have completed the exam.
Immediately, upon completion of the exam, you shall receive an email notifying you whether you have passed or failed.
Your preliminary exam result may be a ’’ preliminary pass’’ which is normally a pass; a ‘’marginal result’’ (too close to call; may be a pass if you are lucky) and a ’’preliminary fail’’ which is normally a fail.
You shall receive your confirmed score up to 8 weeks after the last day of 3 weeks examination window, sometime sooner. It takes another 6-8 weeks after receipt of confirmed score for the certification and wallet card to arrive by post.
The pass mark is roughly 70% (Minimum 400 on a scale of Maximum 500) for all the API examinations.
No negative marking is applied, therefore, answer all the questions. At the end, click the ‘’review all’’ button and peruse through the list to ensure that you have not skipped any question.
You can challenge any question you may wish, by writing on its comment sheet but please note that the clock keeps running so you shall be spending the time to fill in the comment sheet from your allocated examination time.
After ID verification, security check and letting you into the examination room, you will first go through the tutorial which last for maximum 10 minutes or earlier if you press ‘end session button’’, and then the actual exam begins and the clock start ticking. You can see the remaining time at the right-hand corner of the computer screen.
Please click on link below to see the tutorial:
Remember, if during the examination, you wish to leave the examination room for say, using the toilet, you need to take your ID with you, report to the security outside the examination room and sign out. On return, you shall go through the same initial security check and sign in. During all this time, the clock is running.
Sitting for an exam can be stressful, so, try to have enough sleep the night before; on the exam day, just peruse the important parts of the reference documents or look at the figures and charts for a couple of hour maximum. Let your brain rest. You need to be alert and full of energy to endure the exam.
Remember; your exam is not concluded until your time is up or when you press the ‘End Exam’ button which asks for confirmation to ensure that you have not pressed it accidentally.
You shall also see the list of attempted and non-attempted questions at the end by pressing the ‘’Review all’’ button. This would ensure that you have not left any question unanswered.
As of April 2024; all candidates appearing for API exam shall receive instant confirmed scoring and maximum within 24 hours after exam from prometric.
That is not all.
Candidates shall also receive their downloadable certificate in their API account within 3 days.
This is a huge difference of previously waiting for final score for upto 8 weeks and another 8 weeks to receive your certificate. To read more, click on link:
If you fail, you need to apply for rescheduling and pay USD 200 $. You shall receive the exam authorization approval email normally within 2-3 working days. You shall then book your seat with the Prometric as soon as possible.
There is a frequently asked question (FAQ) in the Prometric web site.
There is an API Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). If you have any question, ask us via WhatsApp line or click on below link:
The exam would automatically start after the 10 minutes allocated time for tutorial or if you end it earlier. The icons are simple and user friendly.
Remember that you can flag off those questions you are not sure of so you can return to them during the remaining time.
You can also right click on selected answers to eliminate wrong answers. This will narrow down the possible right answers and therefore increases you chance of getting the right answer.
You can either review all the questions once again or review the flagged off questions only during any remaining time left.
Keep a tab on the remaining time (upper right-hand corner of the screen). There are a few good tutorials in the API ICP (Individual Certification Program) website.
Click to go to:
